Gas compressor apparatus



Oct. 29, 1968 w. P. M COMB 3,407,594

GAS COMPRESSOR APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1966 W////0m f. Ma (0/2745 INVENTOR.

AUTO/7N5 VJ United States Patent 3,407,594. GAS COMPRESSOR APPARATUS William P. McComb, Box 1291, Conroe, Tex. 77301; Austin B. McComb, administrator of said William P. McComb, deceased Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 457,617, May 21, 1965. This application Dec. 5, 1966, Set. 1 No. 607,111

1 Claim. (Cl. 60-39.6)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application is a continuation-in-part of the copending application filed May 21, 1965 bearing Serial No.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved gas compression device having a succession of interconnected chambers wherein a combustible mixture is ignited successively as the flame spreads from one chamber to the next to increase the pressure of the mixture in each of the succeeding chambers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved inert gas compressor having a first chamber and a second chamber connected together by oneway valve means whereby a combustible mixture ignited in the first chamber will expand to increase the pressure of the combustible mixture in the second chamber and thereafter the flame from the first chamber will ignite the combustible mixture ignited in one of such pressure chambers will expand the combustible mixture in each of the successive chambers and will ignite such expanded mixture in each of such chambers as the ignition flame travels from one chamber to the next chamber.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved gas compressor apparatus having a plurality of pressure chambers connected in succession with each of the chambers having a one-way valve which is adapted to open when a combustible mixture in a preceding chamber is ignited and to close when a combustible mixture in its chamber is ignited.

And yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved gas compressor apparatus including a plurality of combustion chambers each having a discharge port and an inlet port with a one-way valve in said inlet port for admitting a combustible mixture to such chamber and for closing off communication through such inlet port when such mixture is ignited.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved gas compressor having a plurality of combustion chambers, each having a discharge port and an inlet port with a one-way valve in said inlet port wherein such combustion chambers are arranged in suc- 3,407,594 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 cession, with the discharge port of each combustion chamber connected to the inlet port of the adjacent succeeding combustion chamberso that a combustible mixture ignited in one of such chambers will expand to close the one-way valve in the inlet port thereof and to expand the combustible mixture in the succeeding chambers.

The preferred embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter together with other features thereof, and additional objects will become evident from such description.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein: FIG. 1 is a view partly schematic and partly in elevation showing the gas compressor apparatus of the present invention connected to piston means for rotating a flywheel and crankshaft; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the apparatus of the invention connected to a turbine for rotating the rotor thereof.

The gas compressor apparatus of this invention, designatedgenerally at A in FIG. 1 of the drawings, includes a plurality of successive chambers C in which a combustible charge is ignited and expanded. Such chambers C are connected together in sucession with a one-way valve member V positioned between adjacent chambers C. With the apparatus A of this invention, when a charge of combustible gas is ignited in one of such chambers C, the gas expands and elevates the pressure of the unburned charge of combustible gas in the succeeding chambers C. As flame propagation spreads into each successive chamber C, the flame ignites a portion of the combustible mixture therein causing it to expand. The expanding gas shuts the valve V between the chamber in which combustion is occurring and the preceding chamber and opens the valve V leading to each of the succeeding chambers and increases the pressure of the gas in each of such succeeding chambers prior to igniting such precompressed gas. Thus, it will be appreciated that with the apparatus of this invention, the pressure of a combustible gas mixture or charge may be increased manyfold with a minimum of moving parts. Also, with the gas compressor apparatus of this invention, a combustible mixture may be ignited and expanded in as many successive stages or successive chambers as desired to expand such combustible mixture to a desired pressure.

Considering now the apparatus of the present invention in more detail, the plurality of combustion chambers C which are best seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings are preferably formed in a block or body 10, or may be formed in separate bodies or housings and joined together, as desired. As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of combustion chambers C preferably comprises an initial combustion chamber 11, an intermediate combustion chamber 12, and a terminal combustion chamber 13. Such chambers are preferably arranged in sequential order with the chamber 11 connected to the chamber 12 by means of a passage 14 and the chamber 12 connected to the chamber 13 by means of a passage 15, as will be explained more fully herein.

Normally, the initial chamber 11 has an inlet passage 11a connecting the chamber 11 with a fuel supply chamber 18 as will be explained hereinafter.

A one-way valve member 21 is positioned adjacent such inlet port 11a for controlling fluid fio'w therethrough. Sruch chamber 11 also has a port or opening 11b provided therein which is adapted to receive a spark plug or other ignition device 16 for igniting an air-fuel mixture or combustible charge in the chamber 11. The ignition device 16 may be actuated at desired intervals by means of suitable timing devices-well known in the art. a

The inlet port 11a is preferably connected to a fuel supply chamber 18 which supplies fuel such as natural gas, gasoline, or some other suitable combustible fuel to the combustion. chambers 11,12, and 13, as will be explained. However, such fuel supply chamber 18 may be positioned at a remote location relative to the combustion chambers C with a suitable conduit (not shown) connected to the chamber '11 by welding or other connecting means.

' The one way valve 21 ispreferably adapted to be opened inwardly relative to the chamber 11 to allow a combustible mixture to be introduced therein and to be closed by the expansion of such-combustible mixture when it is ignited in the chamber 11. Normally, the combustible mixture will be forced into the interconnected chambers 11, -12, and'13 by means of a piston P, as Will be explained herein, or such combustible mixture may be blown by some suitable type of blower, as desired.

\ The intermediate-chamberlZ is connected to the terminal'chamber 13 by the' passage and similarly, the passage'14 connects the chambers 11 and 12. Also, as shown, the chambers 12 and 13 have one-way valves 21 and 22 which are provided for controlling flow through the passages 14 and 15, respectively. Such valves 21 and 22 are adapted to open inwardly relative to the chambers 12 and 13 to receive a combustible mixture therein in substantially the same manner as the valve 21 opens to admit fluid to the chamber 11. Such valves 21 and 22, respectively, are also adapted to be closed when the combustible mixture in each of the respective chambers 12 and 13 is ignited and-expanded.

A combustible fuel may be forced or fed from the fuel supply chamber 18 through the passage 11a into the chamber 11 and then through the passage 14 into the chamber 12 and similarly, through the passage 15 into the chamber 13, as will be described herein. Thereafter, such combustible mixture is ignited in the successive chambers 11, 12, and 13 whereby it is greatly expanded and its pressure is greatly increased, as will be explained.

A pressure chamber 25 is preferably provided for receiving the pressurized combustible mixture from the chamber 13 to drive the piston P. Such pressure storage tank or chamber 25 is connected to the terminal chamber 13 by a conduit 26 or other suitable connecting means. The conduit 26 preferably forms a Y with valve means 26a and 26b in each of the branches of the Y, as shown schematically in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

The valve member 26a is preferably a time controlled valve that is provided for exhausting gas from the comb|ustion chambers 11, 12, and 13 to the atmosphere and to thus facilitate the introduction of a fresh charge of gas to such chambers. The valve member 26b is preferably a check valve which confines pressure in the chamber C. Such valve opens to flow in only one direction to enable gas to pass from the combustion chambers 11, 12, and 13 into the pressure storage chamber 25 and to prevent any back flow from such chamber 25. It will be appreciated that the pressure actuated valve member 26b may have adjustable tension so that it normally remains closed and will open to allow flow only when a predetermined pressure is imposed thereon and which will remain closed in the absence of such pressure. Also, such valve 26b may be manually operated or may be time actuated, as desired; however, it confines pressure in the chambers C except when it opens to allow gas under pressure to flow to the gas pressure chamber 25. The gas pressure chamber 25 is connected to a piston cylinder 41 by means of a conduit 27 which also preferably has a timed inlet valve 28 therein for regulating the fiow of gas pressure to the piston cylinder 41.

As shown, the piston P, which is adapted to be driven by the expanded fuel mixture from the plurality of the combustion chambers C, is provided for rotating a crankshaft K on which is mounted a flywheel W in a manner well known in the art. Such crankshaft K is normally mounted in a crankcase or crankshaft housing 40 on bearings (not shown) in which the crankshaft K is journaled in the usual manner.

The crankcase 40 includes a cylindrical portion 41 which isadapted to, receive the piston Pwhich may be reciprocated therein torotate the crankshaft K, as will be explained. Similarly, the crankcase '40 includes a hollow portion or chamber 42 inwhich the crankshaft throw 43 rotates.

The cylindrical chamber or cylinder 41 has its outermost end 41a closed by means of a cylinder head 50. An annular ring or flange 51 is normally formed near the end 41a of such cylinder 41 for receiving connecting means such as bolts 52 or other suitable connecting means, for securing the head 50 the flange or. ring 51.

As shown, the cylinder head 50, has a port or .opening 50a formed therein for receiving one end of the pressure Conduit 27 for conducting fluid pressure to. the piston cylinder 41 from the chamber 25. Such pressure conduit 27 may be secured in the opening 50:: by welding or other suitable connecting means, as desired.

An exhaust port or opening 54 is provided in the cylinder head 50 for exhausting the expanded combustible fuel mixture from the piston cylinder 41, as will be described. An exhaust conduit 55 is shown connected in the exhaust port 54 for conducting the exhaust gases from the chamber 41. Such exhaust conduit 55 is connected by welding or other suitable connecting means in the port 54. As shown, the exhaust conduit 55 is provided with a timed exhaust valve 56 which is opened when desired.

The piston Pwhich is slidably mounted in the cylinder 41 is normally connected to the crankshaft throw 43 by means of a standard connecting rod 58 which is secured in the piston P by means of a pin 59 in the manner well known in the art.

As shown, the crankcase chamber 42 has an inlet port 44 and a discharge port 45 formed therein for conducting a combustible mixture therethrough as will be explained. The inlet port 44 is adapted to receive a fluid conduit 60 which is secured in such inlet port by any suit-able means such as welding or the like. Such conduit 60 normally has a check valve 62 therein which is adapted to allow the combustible mixture or fuel to passinto the chamber 42 through the port 44 and which is adapted to close to prevent fluid flow out of the chamber 42. The discharge port 45 is adapted to receive a fuel conduit 66 which is provided for conducting the combustible mixture or air-fuel mixture from the crankcase chamber 42 to the fuel supply chamber 18. As shown in the drawings, a valve 67 is provided at the discharge port 45 which is adapted to be opened to permit fluid to flow into the fuel chamber 18 and to close to prevent fluid from flowing to the chamber 42 from the chamber 18.

In operating the apparatus A, the crankshaft K may be rotated axially by a manual crank or other cranking means well known in the art to reciprocate the piston P in the cylinder 41. When the piston P is reciprocated from the position adjacent the end 41a of the cylinder 47 to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the check valve 62 will be closed and the combustible mixture or fluid in the chamber 42 will "be forced through the valve 67 into the fuel supply chamber 18. With the valve 26a open, the pressure of such combustible mixture will open the oneway valves 21, 22, and 23, respectively, to allow such combustible mixture to pass into the chambers 11, 12, and 13. Thereafter, the timed valve 26a will be closed. When the piston P reaches the end of its inward stroke, it is then reciprocated outwardly or to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 of the drawings. As such piston P is reciprocated to the left or toward the end 41a of the cylinder 41, the check valve 62 is opened and a supply of combustible fuel is drawn through the conduit 60 into the chamber 42. Such fuel remains therein until it is forced into the fuel supply chamber 18 from which it passes into the chambers 11, 12,

and 13 as described above when the piston P is reciprocated to the right from the end of its outward stroke or from its position as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

After the combustible material or fuel-air mixture is forced into the chambers 11, 12, and 13, the combustible mixture in the chamber 11 is ignited by means of a spark from a spark plug 16 or other suitable ignition means. When so. ignited, the fuel-air mixture in the chamber 11 expands to close the one-way valve 21 to close ofl? communication through the passage 11a and to open the oneway valves 22 and 23, respectively.

Such expansion of the ignited fuel in the chamber 11 also compresses the combustible mixtures in the chambers 12 and 13 thereby elevating their pressure. Thereafter, when the flame from the ignited combustible mixture in the chamber 11 reaches the precompressed combustible mixture in the chamber 12, the flame will ignite such precompressed combustible mixture. The ignition of the fuel in the chamber 12 closes the valve 22, expands the combustible mixture therein, and further compresses the precompressed air-fuel mixturein the chamber 13. Similarly, when the combustible mixture in the chamber 13 is ignited by the flame from the combustible mixture in the chamber 12, the one-way valve 23 is closed and the precompressed combustible mixture in the chamber 13 is further expanded as it burns.

The valves 26a and 26b both normally remain closed while combustion is occurring in the chambers 11, 12, and 13 so that the pressure of the combustible charge will progressively expand to the maximum in each succeeding chamber as flame propagation moves through such chambers to produce the greatest elevation in the pressure in the final chamber 13. After combustion in the final chamber 13 is substantially complete, the valve 26b is opened to release the pent up pressure to the chamber 25. After the valve 26b has been opened to release pressure from the chamber 13 to the chamber 25 and is again closed, the exhaust valve 26a is then opened to allow a fresh charge of combustible gas to be forced into the chambers 11, 12, and 13, respectively, and to thereby exhaust any residue gas remaining from prior combustion in such chambers through such valve 26a.

Such compressed or pressurized gas or air-fuel mixture will be conducted by way of the conduit 26 from the terminal combustion chamber 13 through the valve 26b to the pressure chamber 25 where such pressurized gas is stored awaiting the opening of the timed inlet valve 28. When the piston P is returned to the position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the valve 28 is then opened and the pressurized gas is introduced into the piston cylinder 41 for moving the piston P to the right as seen in FIG. 1. The piston P which is connected by means of the piston rod 58 to the throw 43 will thus rotate the crankshaft K and flywheel W. While the piston P is moving toward the outer end 41a of the cylinder 41, the exhaust valve 54 is opened to enable the piston P to exhaust or expel the residue of the pressurized gas to the atmosphere.

It should be noted that although one group or series of successively arranged chambers 11, 12, and 13 is shown for purposes of illustration, additional series of combustion chambers may be provided for driving such piston. Furthermore, substantially any number of intermediate chambers may be provided between the initial chamber 11 and the terminal chamber 13 to further compress the combustible mixture in additional successive stages and thereby increase the pressure of the gas supplied to the chamber 25 for driving the piston P or operating other pressure actuated tools which may be connected to the chamber 25. Also, additional pistons could be added to the crankshaft K, each having its own series or succession of combustion chambers or additional pistons could be driven from a single series of chambers C.

In FIG, 2 of the drawings is shown another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention which is there designated generally by the letter A. The apparatus A preferably comprises a series of combustion chambers C which includes chamberslll, 112, and 113, respectively, which are substantially identical to the series of combustion chambers C illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. However, in this embodiment, a blower B is provided for forcing a combustible mixture into the plurality of combustion chambers C. Such blower B is adapted to be connectedto a supply source (not shown) for introducing the combustible mixture into the combustion chambers C. As shown, at times inlet valve 70 is provided in the conduit 70a which connects the blower B and the combustion chambers C. The valve 70 regulates the flow of combustible gas to such chambers C. An ignition device 116, such as a spark plug, is provided in the initial combustion chamber 111 for igniting the fuel-air mixture in such chambers C. A suitable actuating device is provided for actuating the ignition device 116 after the inlet'valve 70 has allowed a charge of combustible fuel to be placed in the chambers 111, 112, and 113.

A conduit 71 is connected to the outlet 71a of the chambers C for conducting compressed gas from the chambers C to a pressure chamber or vessel which provides a means to confine pressure in the chambers C while combustion is occurring therein to cause pressure in the succeeding chambers to progressively increase as combustion advances from a preceding to a succeeding chamber. A valve 72 is provided in the conduit 71 which may be a pressure actuated check valve or a timed valve, as desirde, for admitting pressurized gas of a predetermined minimum pressure to the pressure chamber 80. An exhaust valve 73 is also provided in the conduit 71 for exhausting residue gases from the chambers C after combustion has occurred. Such exhaust valve 73 is preferably actuated by a timing device (not shown) which is synchronized so as to open the exhaust valve 73 while the inlet valve 70is open and thereby allows the gas mixture introduced into the chambers C by the blower B to expel the residue remaining therein after the ignition of the preceding charge has been completed.

As shown in the drawings, pressurized gas from the pressure vessel 80 is supplied through a conduit 81 to a turbine T for rotating the rotors thereof in a manner well known in the art. It will be appreciated that with the gas generator of this invention, one or more pressure actuated devices may be connected to the pressure vessel 80 for operation by the gas supplied therefrom.

In using the apparatus A of this invention, the blower B may be operated either continuously or intermittently, as desired, for supplying a fuel-air mixture to the succession of combustion chambers C. The valves 70 and 73 are normally synchronized so as to be open simultaneously to facilitate the expulsion of residue gas as well as facilitating the introduction of a fresh charge of combustible fuel. After the chambers C have been charged with fuel, both valves 70 and 73 are closed and the ignition device 116 is actuated to ignite the combustible fuel. The expansion of the combustible charge in the chambers C is substantially the same as that described heretofore with reference to the chambers C. The valve 72 may be a check valve or may be a timed valve, as desired; however, it functions to admit compressed gas into the pressure vessel or storage chamber 80 from whence the pressurized gas is drawn for use in operating the various pressure actuated tools or devices such as turbines, pneumatic hammers, or the like.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A gas compressor comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged in succession in such housing;

(c) inlet means connected to the first of said chambers for introducing a combustible charge into the plurality of chambers;

(d) a discharge means connected to the final chamber of said plurality of interconnected chambers for the discharge of the combustible charge after combustion from all of said chambers;

(e) one-way valve means between each of said chambers for permitting flow from a preceding to a succeeding chamber;

(f) means for igniting a combustible charge in said chambers;

(g) means associated with the discharge means of the final chamber for confining the combustible charge in said chambers during combustion thereof to obtain a pressure in the final chamber as a result of the combustion in the successive chambers which is greater than the pressure developed during combustion in each preceding chamber;

(h) said means associated with said final chamber for confining pressure therein includes:

(1) a pressure tank connected to said discharge means for receiving fluid under pressure from said chambers;

(2) a terminal valve in said discharge means for selectively opening and closing communication therethrough; and

(3) an exhaust valve also connected with said discharge means for exhausting residue gas from said chambers while the terminal valve is closed and a fresh combustible charge is being introduced into the chambers at the inlet means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,239,519 9/1917 Rector 60-3958 X FOREIGN PATENTS 7,912 1907 Great Britain.

RALPH D. BLAKESLEE, Primary Examiner. 

